Ironing machine



Nov. 14, 1944- A. H. GERHARDT IRONING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Anarecu H. Gerhardzt ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1944. A. H. GERHARDT IRONING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6 1940 J? INVENTOR. f

T findrez'u H. Ger/7dr .aulssl v E L ATTORNEY 4- I A. H. GERHARDT 2,362,625

IRONING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEK Nov. 14, 1944. A. H. GERHARDT IRONING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1L 4 AU M M N MU Trfl. r 0 6 i U U) Z L H M w 6 f M AM m H 5 f l ATTORNEY 1944- A. H. GERHARDT IRONING MACHINE 5 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 6 1940 INVEN TOR. Gerhardt ATTORNE).

IRONING MACHINE Andrew H. Gerhardt, Niles Center, 111., assignor to Electric Household Utilities Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 6, 1940, Serial No. 868,821

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to ironing machines for household use, and .more specifically to a power operated type of machine, having a rotary roll, totally supported at one end. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a novel form of ironing machine of the type provided with REISSUEB MAR131945 a relatively small diameter of roll for facilitating and expediting the performance of ironing operations, in a novel manner, on various pieces of wearing apparel and other articles of fabric material.

'The ironing machine embodying the present invention is of the general class which is termed a port-able" machine, constructed as a complete,

compact, unitary structure of a size and form which lendsitself for convenient-handling and removal from place to place, and for placement upon suitable supports, or table tops for normal use.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide, in a machine of the character indicated, a novel and simplified form of driving mechanism which lends itself to compact arrangement within a housing of relatively small cross-sectional dimensions, mounted in upstanding relation on the supporting base of the machine, and which mechanism provides the power driving connections to the roll.

Another object is to provide a novel and simplified form of means for varying the pressure of the shoe against the roll.

A further object is to provide a novel and simplified form of operating connections for moving the shoe into and out of cooperating engagement with the roll and for yieldingly maintaining said shoe in pressure engagement with the roll.

Still another object is to provide a novel form of supporting base for the ironer in which the motor and parts of the driving mechanism may be conveniently housed; and wherein a portion of the support is formed with a chamber to serve as a compartment for storage of the conductor cord, which is used for connection to a source of electrical energy.

Other objects and advantagesof this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the ironing machine embodying the present invention, with parts broken away and shown in section to illustrate details of construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view through part of the driving mechanism, taken substantially as indicated at line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the driving mechanism, taken as indicated at line 3-3 on Fig. 2, showing the clutch parts in a position corresponding to a pressing condition of the machine,

wherein the shoe is in en agement with the roll and the roll is in stopped condition.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views of the clutch mechanism seen in Fig. 3; Fig. 4 showing a condition of the mechanism when the roll is stopped and with the shoe out of engagement with the roll; 'and Fig. 5 showing a condition when the roll is rotating, and the shoe disposed in pressure engagement with the roll.

Fig. 6 is a transverse, sectional view through the clutch device, taken substantially as indicated at line 8--8 on Fig. 5.

Figs. '7 and 8 are vertical, sectional views, taken at lines l l and 88, respectively, on Figs. 4 and 5, showing the different positions of adjustment of the clutch shifting collar.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view showing the inner fitting connection between the clutch shifting collar and the movable clutch member, taken substantially as indicated at line 8-9 on Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an elevatlonal view showing the connection between the clutch shifting collar and the movable clutch member, taken as indicated at line ill-l0 onFig, 9.

Figill is an enlarged vertical, fragmentary, sectional view, taken as indicated at line ll-Ii on Fig.1 showing the operating linkage for the rock shaft which controls the movement of the shoe toward and away from the roll, and is shown in a position corresponding to the position of the gurignasubstantially as indicated at line ll-Ill on File. 18 and 17 are transverse sectional views through the shoe arm support, taken as indicated at lines ll-ll and l'l-i'l, respectively, on Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is an end elevational view of the shoe. showing my novel form of thermostat control member and its relationship to the shoe.

by suitable curved surfaces.

Fig. l9'is a fragmentary view from the face side of the shoe showing the relationship of the thermostat control member to the shoe, taken as indicated at line l9-l9 on Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view showing the auxiliary support arm in an operating position, taken as indicated at line 20-20 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 21 is an unbroken, small scale, front ele-. vational view of the ironing machine embodying the present invention. I

The ironing machine embodying the present invention, as illustrated in the drawings, includes a hollow supporting housing or base H) of generally rectangular form, at the right hand end of which is mounted an upstanding gooseneck type housing or standard II, which serves to enclose power drive connectionsto and support for a rotary roll l2. In the construction illustrated. the housing H is a casting and includes an upstanding tubular portion which terminates at its upper end in a horizontally extending tubular portion, and said portions are connected together Said housing is so designed that the cross-sectional dimension, taken'at any point throughout the length of said housing, is substantially equal to the external diameter of the roll [2.

The roll I2 is of conventional construction, including a tubular metal body It around which is wrapped suitable padding material l5, which is surrounded by a fabric wrapper or cover. The outside diameter of said padded roll desirably does not exceed 4 /2 inches, and preferably is in the range of 3 /2 inches in diameter. Said roll extends horizontally and in parallel spaced-apart relation to the supporting base In, and is totally supported at one end by the horizontal portion of the gooseneck housing I i in a conventional manner. By virtue of the relative diameter of the roll and the size of said housing II. it is now possible to properly and efficiently iron various articles of wearing apparel in a comparatively 'simple and expeditious manner, not heretofore possible on previous types of domestic ironing machines provided with conventional large diameter rolls. Cooperating with said roll i2 is a shoe l8, which is preferably electrically heated in a manner well understood in the art. The operating face of the shoe is shaped to the contour of the padded roll i 2, and is mounted for manual movement into and out of pressure engagement with said roll, as will hereinafter be more particularly described.

The metal tubular portion l4 of the roll is provided at opposite ends. and at substantially centrally of its length, with dish-shaped stampings I1 and Is. Said dish-shaped stampings I1 are provided with centrallv offset portions l1. formed to enclose bearin s l9 which are sunported on a piece of metallic tubing 20. Said tube 20 extends beyond the end of the roll. adjacent the housing H, and is press fitted into said horizontal portion of said housing, at two horizontallv spaced-apart points. as seen in Fig, 1 of the drawings. It is by virtue of this constructi n that said tube. which is carried by the housing ll. provides journal support for the roll 12. The dished member l8 at the free end of the roll is formed for an interilttine drivin connection to a roll drive shaft 22. which extends centrally and longitudinally of the roll and throu h the tube 20 into the housing H for connection to the driving mechanism, and serves to impart driving motion to the roll i 2. The end of said shaft w thin the housing H is provided with an oil seal 24 enaseaces gaging the inner wall of the tube 20. The shaft is secured in proper position with respect to the roll l2 and tube 20 by a spring collar 28 mounted on the shaft, adjacent the outer end of the tube 20. Threaded into the outer end of the tube 20 is a tubular nut 21 adapted to serve as an abutment shoulder for the collar 26 and thereby preventing outward movement of the shaft with respect to the housing I l.

The driving mechanism for the roll includes an electrically driven motor 30 disposed within the supporting housing l0, and securel connected to a cast housing member 32 by means of machine screws 33. Said housing 32 serves to enclose the lower portion of the driving mechanism and the clutch mechanism below the standard H. The upper end of housing 32 is formed with an opening for registration with the Opening at the bottom of the standard II, which is also in registration with a similar opening formed in the top of the supporting housing ID, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The upstanding standard H is secured to the top of the supporting housing 10 by means of three circumferentially spaced-apart machine screws ,35; and said housing 32 is secured to the standard II by two machine screws 31, one of which is of substantial length, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The motor shaft is provided with a driving pinion 40 meshed with a gear 4| loosely mounted on a shaft 48, one end of which is press-fitted into a boss 44 constituting a part of the motor housing, and the other end'is fitted into a boss 46 of the housing 32, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Said gear 4| has its hub provided with an annular groove 41, into which extends the edge of a plate 48 secured to a boss of the motor housing and which serves to limit axial movement of ear 4| on the shaft 43.

Mounted on the outer face of the gear 4!, by means of rivets 50, is a clutch plate 5|, which is formed with a central opening 53, the contour of which is such as to providethree circumferentially spaced-apart driving teeth 54. The driving mechanism, to be hereinafter described, is under control of a clutch mechanism which is carried on the shaft 43, and which is disposed within a chamber formed in the housing 32, as seen in Figs. 3 to 5 of the drawings. Cooperating with said clutch plate 5! is an axially shiftable pinion 51 slidably mounted on the shaft 43. Said pinion is formed with three equidistant, circumferentially spaced teeth of greater length than the other teeth, as seen in Fig, 5 of the drawings, so that when said pinion is shifted into operative en agement with the clutch plate 5|, said three long teeth are brought into operating contact with the teeth 54 of said clutch plate 5|, by virture of which power is transmitted to the' pinion 5 The purpose of forming the clutch plate in the manner indicated and providing only three elongated or extended portions of the teeth of the pinion 51 is to avoid chattering and noise. and insure quick and easy entrance of said extended portions of the teeth into the openings in the clutch plate intermediate the teeth 54, and thereby obtain almost instantaneous clutching and power drive connections. Said pinion 51 at the end opposite the extended teeth is formed with an elongated hub 58, the extremeend of which is formed with an enlarged. annular flange 59 which is adapted to be seated into an annular socket 60 formed in an enlarged. flanged shoulder 6| of the clutch shifting collar 82, which likewise is slidably mounted on the shaft 43. Said shoulder Bl is provided with a slot at, as seen in Figs. 9 and iii of the drawings. to permit entrance into socket portion 88 of the flange 59 of the pinion The clutch pinion ti and the shifting collar together with shaft it, are assembled by first seating the flange E9 of the pinion bl into the hollow socket of shoulder 8! of the collar, and then passing the shaft 43 there-through so as to maintain the parts in coupled relation. The purpose of this connection is to reduce transmission of rotary motion from the pinion 5'! to the collar 02 and thereby reduce strain and wear upon the elementswhich are utilized for effecting shifting of said collar 02. Y

Mounted in abutting relation with the outer shoulder 65 of the clutch shifting collar 02 is a thimbie 66, which is surrounded by a coil spring 68 reacting against the flange of the thimble and against the end of the chamber 50, thereby serving' to urge the clutch shifting collar 82 together with the clutch pinion 51 in an inward operating direction, The extent of such inward movement under influence of the spring 08 is limited by a orimpcd washer I mounted in a groove in the shaft 43 in position to be engaged by the closed end of the thimble 60, as seen in Fig. of the drawings.

Mounted beneath the clutch pinion 51 and in mesh therewith is an idler gear l2 loosely mounted on a stud "I3 carried in a boss II formed as a part of the motor housing. The lower portion'of the housing 32 is filled with suitable lubricant, preferably in the form of oil, the level of which, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. is sufficiently high so that the gear 12 continuously travels through the bath of oil and picks up same and transmits it to the clutch pinion 01 and thence to the driving mechanism (hereinafter described) and serves as a medium for lubricating said driving mechanism.

The gearing thus. far described provides a speed reduction from the motor to the pinion 01 when the latter is engaged with the clutch plate 5|. A further reduction is obtained by mechanism which will now be described and which serves as the medium for transmitting motion to the roll drive shaft 22. Said mechanism is in the nature of a unitary gearing assembly and includes a vertically disposed mounting bar I6 extending up into the standard II and within the housing 32, as seen in Fig, 1. The opposite ends of the bar I6 are reduced as indicated at I1 and the lower end of the bar is'seated in a socket 32 in the housing 32, while the upper end of said bar is seated in a socket II' formed in the upper end of said standard II. Projecting laterally from said bar and rigidly secured thereto are vertically spaced apart,.horizontally extending stub shafts 00. ill, 02, 83, and 04. Said stub shaft 00, at its outer end. is seated in a socket 32 formed integrally with the housing 32. and serves to properly position said bar with its stub shafts in proper operating relation. Mounted on the stub shaft 00 is a gear 00, meshing with the clutch, pinion l1, and rigidly attached to said gear 88 is a pinion It with which is meshed a gear 80 loosely mounted on the stub shaft II. Loosely mounted on stub shaft 02 is another gear 00, meshing with the gear 00. A pinion 02 is rigidly attached to thegear 00 and meshes with a gear 93 loosely mounted on the stub shaft 03, and the latter gear is meshed with a gear 04 loosely mounted on the top stub shaft 04. Rlgidly attached to the gear 04 is a coupler member OI of thimble-like formation, the end of which is formed with a socket the nature of a slot for receiving a tangmhaped terminal 22 formed on the end of the i" drive shaft 22%. It will now be apparent tin hen the clutch pinion ti is in cooperating engagement with the clutch discfii,

motion is transmitted through the gearing described to the roll drive shaft 22 for efiecting rotation of the roll it. The drive mechanism above described is relatively simple and economical to manufacture and lends itself for embodiment in a compact form which may be conveniently assembled as a unit including the bar I8 andgearing described, permitting utilization of a tubularmentioned, are under control of the clutch pinion member 51 and the movement of the clutch pinion is subject to a dual control-one by a hand operated plunger I00, which controls rotation of the roll under certain conditions, and the other under control of the hand crank arm IOI, which, in addition, also serves to control movement of the shoe 96 into and out of cooperating engagement with the roll I2. The plunger I00 is in the form of a rod slidably mounted in a boss I03 formed integrally with an end casting I04, which constitutes a closure for one end of the supporting housing iii. The outer end of the plunger rod I00 is provided with a convenient knob I05 for grasping by the hand, and the opposite end of said 'rod is pivotally connected by a cotter pin I06 to a depending crank arm I01, the latter being rigidly secured, as by riveting, to the end of a cylindrical plug I08, the opposite portion of which is journaled in a bearing formed in the housing 32, as seen in Figs. 3 to 5 of the drawings. In view of the fixed direction of movement of the plunger rod I 00 and its relation to the crank arm I 01, said pivotal connection between the parts is accommodated by an elongated slot I01- formed in the lower portion of said arm I01 so as to permit linear movement of the rod I00 to be transmitted to pivotal movement of the arm I01, without binding between the parts.

The cylindrical plug or body I08 is provided at its inner end with a nubbin I00 positioned to be moved into and out of engagement with the flanged shoulder 05 of the shiftable clutch collar 62. The plug body I08 is retained in proper position in the housing 32 by a retaining plate IIO secured by screw III to the housing body, with an edge portion of the plate protruding into a. groove I00 formed in the wall of the plug body, as seen in Fig. 3. When the plunger I00 is withdrawn outwardly with respect to the position seen in Fig. 1. the arm I 01 is rocked forwardly to rotate the plug body I00 and thereby moves the nubbin I00 in a direction away( from the shoulder 00: and the coil spring 00, exerting pressure on the shiftable clutch collar 82, urges'said collar together with the clutch pinion 51 in a direction for causing engagement of the three long teeth of the clutch pinion withthe teeth 04 of the fclutch plate ll.

shoulder 00 of the shiftable clutch collar follows up the movement of the nubbin I00 as it is ro- During such movement, the

tated incident to the rotation of the plug body I00. Such control of the clutch pinion 51 by the plunger I is, however, also in turn subject to control by the hand crank IOI.

Said hand crank is in the form of a rod normally disposed in an oblique position. as seen in Fig. 12, adjacent the outer wall of end casting I04, and is formed at its free end'with a transversely bent portion extending inwardly and forwardly of the machine proper andprbvided with a convenient handle H2. The other end of said rod IOI, forming the crank handle, extends through a rotatable plug I I4, t0 which it is firmly secured by means of a set screw III, as seen in Fig. 13 of the drawings. Said plug H4 is journaled in a boss II8. extending inwardly from and formed integral with the end casting I04. Rigidly secured to the inner end of the reduced portion of the plug II4, as seen in Fig. 13 of the drawings, b means of .a screw III, is a lever I I9 formed as a stamping. One end of the lever is pivotally connected at I 2| to a toggle link I22, the opposite end of the toggle link being connected by a pivot I23 to the lower end of a crank arm I24. Said arm I24 is rigidly secured, as by welding, to a rock shaft I25 mounted within and extending longitudinally of the base or housing support I0 adjacent the rear edge. The other end of the lever H9 is formed with an elongated slot I21, into which extends a terminal portion I28, in the form of a spherical knob, which constitutes the end of an arm I29 which is rigidly secured to a plug body I30. Said plug body is also journaled in the housing 32 at the side directly opposite the plug body L08, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Said plug I30 is retained against axial movement in the housing 32, but permitted rotative movement therein by a retaini p a e similar to that associated with plug I08.

When the shoe I6 is disposed out of engagement with the roll, the operating crank arm IN is normally disposed in oblique position, as seen in Fig. 12, and when the shoe is moved into engagement with the roll, said crank arm IOI assumes a position extending substantially horizontally, as seen in Fig. 11. Such movement of the crank arm also controls the clutch shifting collar 62. This is effected by means of a nubbin I33 on the inner end of the plug I30, which is positioned to encounter the shoulder 65 of said shifting collar 62. When the shoe is in engagement with the roll, the nubbin I33, through lever H9 and arm I29, is moved from the position seen in Fig. 4 to the position seen in Figs. 3 and 5. When the hand plunger I00 is drawn outwardly, effecting rotation of the plug body I08, its nubbin I09 is moved from the position seen in Fig. 3 to the position seen in Figs. 4 and 5. When the hand plunger I00 is in the position seen in Fig. 1 and the hand crank arm IOI is in the position seen in Fig. 12, the roll is stopped and the shoe I6 backed away from the roll, and in this condition the clutch is disengaged and the members which control the clutch assume a position as seen in Fig. 4. When the plunger I00 is withdrawn outwardly to operating position and the hand crank IOI is moved to the position seen in Fig. 11, the shoe is in engagement with the roll I2 and the clutch is operatively engaged for rotating the roll; and the parts which control the clutch, assume the position as seen in Fig, 5 of the drawings. When it is desired to use the machine for pressing operations, that is, where the shoe and roll are brought into operative engagement with each other while the roll remains stationary,

then the hand plunger I00 remains in the position seen in Fig. 1 and the hand crank arm is moved from the position seen in Fig. 12 t a position as seen in Fig. 11, and the parts for controlling the clutch driving connections assume a position as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The supporting housing or base I0 is composed of a pair of end castings, one of which, as above mentioned, i designated asI 04, and a similar casting I40 is disposed at the opposite end, and said castings are each provided with a pair of transversely spaced-apart depending bosses I04 and I40", respectively, into which are mounted resilient plugs or {feet I. Said end castings are connected by a sheet metal housing I42 which, as may be seen in the drawings, is composed of a single sheet of metal bent at opposite edges in a downward direction to form sides, and the lower ends of the sides being bent inwardly and then upwardly to form a reinforcing flange, as seen in Fig. 11 of the drawings. The outer ends of the housing I42 are formed with inturned flanges I42 for securement by screws I43 to the respective end casting I04 and I40. Said hopsing is substantially enclosed by a bottom panel I44, which is connected by screws I44 to the bottom inwardly extending portions of the housing I42, as seen in Figs. 1 and 14 of the drawings, and thus substantially forms a complete closure for the motor 30 and the mechanism associated therewith and mounted within the housing I0. The top of the housing I42 adjacent the end enclosing the motor 30 and driving mechanism is reinforced by a sheet metal plate I45, which is spot welded to the underside surface of the top of the housing I42. The longitudinal edges of the reinforcing plate I45 terminate in downturned flanges I46 for further stiffening and reinforcing of the top of the housing I42, while the end of the reinforcing plate adjacent the drive mechanism is formed with a downturned flange I41, which is secured by screws I48 to the end casting I04. I

The rock shaft I25 is supported at the end adjacent the driving mechanism in a bearing I50 formed integrally with and opening to the inside of the end casting I04, as seen in Fig. 13. The opposite end of said rock shaft is journaled in a bracket I5I spot welded to the underside of the top of the sheet metal housing body I42. Axial movement of the rock shaft I 25 is precluded by a spring washer I52 seated in a groove formed in said shaft adjacent the end of the bearing bracket I5I, a seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The end of the rock shaft beyond the bracket I5I is splined, as indicated at I54, on which splined portion is mounted an upstanding arm I55 constituting a part of the shoe arm support. Surrounding and straddling said arm I55 is a sheet metal arm I 56 of U-shaped formation, as seen in Figs. 1 and 15 to 17 of the drawings. The lower end of said arm I56 has its side walls journaled on the rock shaft I25, on opposite sides of arm I55, and is confined in place on said rock shaft by means of spring collars or snap rings I58 extending into grooves formed in said portion of the rock shaft, adjacent the sides of the arm I56. The upper end of the sides of the arm I56 is pivotally connected by means of a pin I60 to a pair of ear I6I formed integrally with the back portion I6 of the shoe I6, normally enclosed by a back plate I6 as seen in Fig. 15 of the drawings, by virtue of which the shoe I6 is pivotally supported so as to permit itto freely accommodate itself to the contour of the roll I2.

The shoe arms I55 and I56 are interconnected by means of a headed rod I62 which, as may be seen in Fig. 15,'has the head thereof seated against the outside wall of the arm Illand the other end extending through arm III. with a coil spring is: surrounding said rod and interposed between said arms. The outer end of the screw projecting beyond the arm III, on the ,side'toward the operator of themachine, is'provided with a hand knob I so that by rotating the knob I64, thepressnr of the spring Ill may be varied and-thereby. varie the relationship of the shoe to the rock shaft I25, and by virtue of which the pressure ofthe shoe when engaged with the roll, as will presently be described, will be correspondingly varied. Surrounding the spring I is a sleeve Ill, interposed between the respective arms III and iII for'limiting their final position of adjustment for obtaining maximum pressure of the shoe II against the roll I2. When the knob I04 is threaded outwardly to permit the arm I" to assume the position indicated in dot-and-dash outline in Fig: 15, the pressure of the shoe II against the roll, in operating position, has been greatly reduced. The purpose of providing such a variation in pressure of the shoe against the roll is for adapting the ironing machine for performing a proper ironing operation on various types of fabric materials.

The rock shaft I2! is caused to be rocked for moving the shoe toward and away from the roll by movement of the hand crank IIII, as above mentioned. It will be apparent that as the hand crank IIII is moved from the position seen in Fig. 12 to the position seen in Fig. 11, motion is directly transmitted to the rock shaft I2l by lever us, link I22, and lever arm I24. Obviously, when the shoe it engages the roll, further movement of the hand crank to the final position seen in Fig. 11 builds up the pressure of contact of the shoe against the roll; and further movement of the rock shaft I26, by hand crank IOI, causes the rock shaft to become a torque member, serving to provide the necessary spring tension which constitutes a yieldingpressure" force for maintaining the shoe in pressure engagement with the roll I2. When the shoe is moved into pressure engagement with the roll, the, linkage, including lever I II, toggle link I22, and lever arm I24, assumes a locked position at which the pivot I2I is in line with or slightly above the axesof the pivot I22 and the plug II4 carrying hand crank IOI. Thus the shoe is retained in pressure engaging relation to the roll until hand crank IIII is raised to break the toggle lock of the linkage.

In order to arrest the linkage, comprising the lever III, two different limits of movement desired, which correspond to the position of the shoe in engagement with the roll or backed away from the roll at an inoperative position. the lower edge of the lever' I I! is formed with a pai of spaced-apart abutment shoulders III and III so that when the shoe is backed away from the roll to sumoperative position, the linkage assumes a position as seen in Fig. 12, with the abutment shoulder Ill engaging a stop I44 projecting in- 5 the pressure transmitted to the rock shaft and shoe arms Ill and III for causing the shoe I I to exert pressure against the roll I2.

It is to be understood that in the movement of the crank army IIII in downward direction for bringing the shoe into engagement with the roll, the shoe actually engages the roll prior to the time that the abutment shoulder I III engages the stop boss I04", so that during the travel of the linkage from the position where the shoe first engages the roll until the linkage is arrested by the stop I04, the desired pressure is built up for maintainingthe shoe in a desired yielding pressure engagement with theroll. To facilitate movement of the shoe away from the roll to inoperative position and for returning the linkage as well as the crank arm IOI to inoperative position, as seen in Fig. 12, I provide a coil spring I10 surrounding the rock shaft I26 adjacent the arm is connected to a conventional toggle link I22, and arm I24, at the wardly from the inside of the end casting I44, as

seen in Figs. 11 to 13 of the drawings; and when the crank arm IN is moved to the position seen in Fig. 11, at which position the shoe has been I24, through an aperture formed in the depending flange I 48 of the reinforcing plate I45, and the other end of the spring I10 being'bent around the arm I24. It is to be understood that the spring is formed so that when mounted as indicated, a slight pressure is exerted on the linkage when said linkage is in the position seen in Fig. 12; and when the linkage moves to the position seen in Fig. 11, the tension in the spring Ill is gradually increased, building up potential'energy for facilitating the return of the parts to the position seen in Fig. 12, and the shoe away from the roll, and thereby reducing the manual effort which would normally be required for performin such operation. r

Another novel feature of this invention resides in the provision of-a thermostat control for the electrical heating elements of the shoe I. As above mentioned, said shoe includes a back plate II", formed of sheet metal and which serves to enclose the heating elements in a manner well understood in the art. The upper portion of the housing adjacent the outer end of the shoe, as seen in Figs. 1 and 18 and 19, is formed with an upstanding boss or arcuate formation, as indicated at II, with which is aligned a manually adjustable rotatable thermostat control member Ill, iournaled on a shaft I16, which, in turn,

thermostat device mounted within the housing W. The manually adiustable member I15 is of frusto-conical formation so as to provide a face I11. the upper edge of which is exposed above the housing I8 of the shoe, at'an oblique angle corresponding to a plane substantially perpendicular to the normal direction of-vision of the operator when seated at the machine for performing the normal ironing operations. Said face I11 of the manually adjustable thermostat member I1! is provided with suitable graduations to indicate definite positions of adjustment of the thermostatcorresponding to different temperature ranges for the heat of the shoe I8 for the performance of an ironing operation on various types of fabric material. For convenience of the operatonthe face I11 of the control member is designated by suitable wording at areas corresponding to a proper position of adjustment of the member I15 for obtaining a desired temperature of the shoe for ironing a corresponding type of fabric material. For example, the operating face I11 of the thermostat control member may for artificial silk, silk, rayon, wool, cotton, and linen, and in this same sequence the degree of temperature of the shoe is desirably correspondwith one end of the spring I10 projecting.

contain designations ingly varied. Obviously, the quired for ironing of silk is less than that required for the ironing of cotton and linen, etc. To facilitate proper adjustment of the control member I'll, the embossed portion II of the housing is provided with an upstanding indicating character, as represented at II, in the nature of a pointer with which the control member I'Ii may be alignedfor obtaining proper adjustment of the thermostat as may be required. The outer periphery of the member I1! is formed serrated for convenience of the operator so that slight engagement thereof by the finger may effect prompt and easy adjustment of the control member.

In ironing comparatively wide articles, such as bed linen or table linen, it is necessary to fold the article a number of times inorder to reduce the total width of the article for e through the machine. In order to permit the operator to more conveniently perform the ironing operation on such large articles and also to reduce the number of folding operations of the article and obtain ironing of the article by direct engagement of its temperature re serving to control the drive to the roll, and a separate manually operable member extending through said. base and serving to move the shoe into and out of engagement with the roll, and

adapted for controlling the clutch when said first mentioned member is in one position of adjustment.

2. In a unitary portable ironing machine adapted to be mounted upon a table or stand, the

entire surface with the shoe of the machine, I

provide an auxiliary supportin the nature ofa rod I80, one end of which is formed with a downturned extension or terminal portion I8I which may be seated in a socket I82 formed in the top of the gooseneck housing II adjacent the ro11,.'as seen in dot-and-dash outline in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It is to be understood that the dimension of the downturned portion III of said rod is such that the upper surface of the main portion of the rod is disposed at substantially the same level as the top surface of the roll I2. Said rod thus serves to support the overhanding portion (extending to the right of the roll and shoe) of a wide piece of bed linen or table linen as it is bein ironed. Said auxiliary supporting rod may also be utilized advantageously for supporting articles that have been ironed, and for such use, the

downturned portion I8I of the rod is seated in a socket 0 formed in the upper end of the outer end casting I40 which forms a part of the supporting base III, as seen in Figs. 1 and 20 of the drawings. Desirably, the rod I80 is or polygonal cross-section and, as shown, is of hexagonal form; and it is to be understood that the sockets I82 and I40 are of corresponding shape so as to per mit seating the rod in the sockets at any of a number of desired angular positions of adjustment, such as indicated in dot-and-dash outline in Fig. 20. When the rod I80 is not in use, it may be insertedinteriorly of the supporting base III, by sliding through an aperture (not shown) in the end casting I04.

The interior of the supporting base, at the end opposite the drive mechanism, forms a chamber of substantial size and may be used as a storage compartment for an extension cord, which is provided for connection to a convenience outlet for supplying eectrical current to the motor 30.

Although I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish tobe understood as limiting this invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as it may be so limited in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a unitary portable ironing machine adapted to be mounted upon a table or stand. the combination'oi a hollow supporting base, a

tubular standard mounted on said base, adjacent combination of a hollow supporting base, including a sheet metal body of elongated, inverted, channel shape formation, a pair of end castings rigidly secured to and serving to close the ends of said body, and a panel of sheet material secured to the lower marginal edges of said body, a tubular standard mounted on said base, ad- Jacent one end, a rotatable padded roll supported at one end on said standard, ashoe supported by the base and mounted for movement into and out of cooperating engagement with said roll, power mechanism including a motor and speed reducing driving mechanism mounted within said base, transmission mechanism extending up into said standard and serving to operably connect the driving mechanism to the roll, clutch means interposed in the driving mechanism, and dual control means for said clutch, including a manually operable member extending through the base and serving to control the drive to the roll, and a separate manually operable member extending through said base and serving to move the shoe into and out of engagement with the roll, and adapted for controlling the clutch when said first mentioned member is in one position of adjustment.

, 3 In a unitary portable ironing machine adapted to be mounted upon a table or stand, the combination of a hollow supporting base, including a sheet metal body of elongated, inverted, channel shape formation, having the lower marginal edges inturned to form flanges, a panel of sheet material securely attached to said flanges, and a pair of end castings rigidly secured to and serving to close the ends of said body, a tubular standard mounted on said base, adjacent one end, a rotatable paddled roll supported at one end on said standard, a shoe supported by the base and mounted for movement into and out of cooperating engagement with said roll, power mechanism including a motor and speed reducing driving mechanism mounted within said base, transmission mechanism extending up into said standard and serving to operably connect the driving mechanism to the roll, clutch means interposed in the driving mechanism, and dual control means for said clutch, including a manually operable member extending through the base and serving to control the drive to the roll, and a separate manually operable member extending through said base and serving to move the shoe into and out of engagement with the roll, and adapted for controlling the clutch when said first assasss mentioned member is in one position of adjustment.

4. In is unitary portable ironingmachine adapted to be mountedupon a table or stand, the combination of a supporting base; a gooseneck tubular standard mounted on said base, adjacent one end; a rotatable, padded roll supported at one end on the upper end of said standard; a roll drive shaft having a portion extending into said upper end of the standard, a shoe supported by the base and mounted for movement into and out of cooperating engagement with said roll;

' power mechanism including a motor and speed reducing driving mechanism mounted within said base; a housing enclosing said driving mechanism; transmission mechanism extending up into said standard and serving to operably connect the driving mechanism to the roll, said transmission mechanism constituting a unitary assembly including a vertically disposed mounting bar sup. ported at its lower end in a socket in said housing and its upper end being seated in a socket formed interiorly of the standard, a plurality of vertically spaced-apart, horizontally extending stub shafts mounted on said bar, and an intermeshing train of gears mounted on said shafts; and manually controlled clutch means interposed in said driving mechanism.

5. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting base; a gooseneck tubular standard U mounted on said base, adjacent one end; a rotatable, padded roll supported at one end on the upper end of said standard; a roll drive shaft having a portion extending into said upper end of the standard, a shoe supported by the base and mounted for movement into and out of 00- operating engagement with said roll: power mechanism including a motor and speed.reducing driving mechanism mounted within said base; a housing enclosing said driving mechanism; transmission mechanism extending up into said standard and serving to operably connect the driving mechanism to the roll, said transmission mechanism constituting a unitary assembly ineluding a vertically disposed mounting bar supported at its lower end in a socket in said housing and its upper end being seated in a socket formed interiorly of the standard, a plurality of vertically spaced-apart, horizontally extending stub shafts mounted on said bar, and an intermeshing train of gears mounted on said shafts; a coupling member carried by the gear mounted on the uppermost stub shaft, said member being adapted for detachable connection with a cooperatively formed end portion of the roll drive shaft; and manually controlled clutch means interposed in said driving mechanism.

6. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting base; a gooseneck tubular standard mounted on said base, adjacent one end; a rotatable, padded roll supported at one endon the upper end of said standard; a roll drive shaft having a portion extending into said upper end of the standard, a shoe supported by the base and mounted for movement into and out of cooperating engagement with said roll; power mechanism including a motor and speed reducing driving mechanism mounted within said base; a housing enclosing said driving mechanism; transmission mechanism extending up into said standard and serving to operably connect the driving mechanism to the roll, said transmission mechanism constituting a unitary assembly including a vertically disposed mounting bar supported at its lower end in a socket in said housing and its upper end being seated in a socket formed interiorly of the standard, a plurality of vertically spaced-apart, horizontallyextending stub shafts mounted on said bar, and an intermeshing train of gears mounted on said shafts; the lowermost stub shaftincluding an extension adapted to be seated in a sockets in said housing for holding said unitary assembly in proper alignment; and manually controlled clutch means interposed in said driving mechanism.

7. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting base; a gooseneck tubular standard mounted on said base, adjacent one end; a rotatable, padded roll supported at one end on the upper end of said standard; a r011 drive shaft having a portion extending into said upper end of the standard, a shoe supportedby the base and mounted for movement into and out of cooperating engagement with said roll; power mechanism including a motor and speed reducing driving mechanism mounted within said base; a housing enclosing said driving mechanism; transmission mechanism extending up into said standard and serving to operably connect the driving mechanism to the roll, said transmission mechanism constituting a unitary assembly including a vertically disposed mounting bar supported at its lower end in a socket in said housing and its upper end being seated in a socket formed inte-.

riorly of the standard, a plurality 6f vertically spaced-apart, horizontally extending stub shafts mounted on said bar, and an intermeshing train of gears mounted on said shafts; a gear operably driven by the driving mechanism and dimensioned and positioned to travel through a body of lubricant in said housing for transmitting lubricant to the driving and transmission mechanisms; and manually controlled clutch means interposed in said driving mechanism.

8. In an ironing machine, the combination of a hollow supporting base, a tubular standard mounted on said base, adjacent one end, a rotatable padded roll supported at one end on said standard, a shoe supported by the base and mounted for movement into and out of cooperating engagement with said roll, power mechanism including a motor and speed reducing driving mechanism mounted within said base, transmission mechanism extending up into said standard and serving to operably connect the driving mechanism to the roll, clutch means interposed in the driving mechanism, said driving mechanism including a shaft, a driving clutch member mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart abutment jaws, a driven pinion clutch member axially slidable along said shaft and constantly meshed with the transmission mechanism, said pinion being formed at the end adjacent the driving member with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart jaws adapted-for disengageable cooperation with the abutment jaws of the driving clutch member, a clutch shifting collar slidably mounted on said shaft and formed to provide a rotatably free interconnection with the driven clutch pinion, and manually controlled means for shifting said collar for moving said driven clutch pinion into and out of engagement with the driving clutch member.

9. In an ironing machine, the combination of a hollow supporting base, a tubular standard end adjacent the driving member with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart jaws adapted for disengageable cooperation with the abutment jaws of the driving clutch member, a clutch shifting collar slidably mounted on said shaft and formed to provide a rotatably free interconnection with the driven clutch pinion, spring means reacting on said collar and serving to urge it along said shaft for moving the clutch pinion into en,- gagement with the riving clutch member, and

' manually operable means acting on said collar for controlling the action of said spring means.

10. In an ironing machine, the combination of a hollow supporting base, a tubular standard mounted on said base, adjacent one end, a rotatable padded roll supported atone end on said standard, a shoe supported by the base and mounted for movement into and out of cooperating engagement with said roll, power mechanism including a motor and speed reducing driving mechanism mounted within said base, transmission mechanism extending up into said standard and serving to operably connect the driving mechanism to the roll, clutch means interposed in the driving mechanism, said driving mechanism including a shaft, a driving clutch member mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced-apart abutment jaws, a driven pinion clutch member axially 'slldable along said shaft and constantly meshing with the transmission mechanism, said pinion being formed at the end adjacent the driving member with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart jaws adapted for disengageable cooperation with the abutment jaws of the driving clutch member, a clutch shifting collar slidably mounted on said shaft and formed to provide a rotatably free interconnection tatable padded roll supported at one end on said standard, a shoe supported by the base and mounted for movement into and out of cooperating engagement with said'roll, power mechanism including a motor and speed reducing driving mechanism mounted within said base, transmission mechanism extending up into said standard and serving to operably connect the drivin mechanism to the roll, clutch means interposed in the driving mechanism, said driving mechanism including a shaft, adriving clutch member mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart abutment jaws, a driven pinion clutch member axially 'slidable along said shaft and constantly meshed with the transmission mechanism, said pinion being formed at the end adjacent the driving member with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart jaws with the driven clutch pinion, and'dual control a means for the clutch means including a manually operable member for controlling the shifting of said collar to control the drive to said roll, and a separate manually operable member for moving the shoe into and out of engagement with the roll and having connections for controlling the movement of said collar and drive to said roll when the first mentioned manually operable member is in one position of adjustment.

11. In an ironing machine, the combination of a hollow supporting base, a tubular standard mounted on said base, adjacent one end, a roadapted for disengageable cooperation with the abutment jaws of the driving clutch member, said laws of the pinion constituting extensions of certain teeth thereof, a clutch shifting collar slidably mounted on said shaft and formed to provide a rotatably free interconnection with the driven clutch pinion, and manually controlled means for shifting said collar for moving said driven clutch pinion into and out of engagement with the driving clutch member.

12. In an ironing machine, the combination of a rotatable roll member and a cooperating electrically energized shoe member, one of said members being movable into and out of cooperative engagement with the other, said shoe having a thermostat heat control device including a rotatably adjustable hand piece in the form of a disc mounted on the back of said shoe with a por tion of its marginal edge projecting upwardly in a position to be readily visible to an operator of the machine for convenient adjustment, the forward marginal portion of the face of said disc beingprovided with suitable indicia to readily indicate the various positions of adjustment of the thermostat heat control device.

13. In an ironing machine, the combination of a rotatable roll member and a cooperating electrically energized shoe member, one of said members being movable into and out of cooperative engagement with the other, said shoe having a thermostat heat control device including a rotatably adjustable hand piecein the form of a disc mounted on the back of said shoe with a portion of its marginal edge projecting upwardly in a position to be readily visible to an operator of the machine for convenient adjustment, the forward marginal portion of the face of the disc being provided with suitable indicia to designate various positions of adjustment of the thermostat heat control device, and the upper edge of the shoe being provided with an index feature with which said indicia of the disc are adapted to be registered.

ANDREW H. GERHARDT. 

